GO LONG (12 page)

"Do you know that when we bought this house, we found hundreds of tiny bird skeletons by the windows. It was so sad. So, we had Cynthia build us faux hawks!"

"Cynthia?"

"Evan's ex. She's a metalsmith."

"Of course she is."

I felt like crying suddenly. I was so tired.
 

"I think I should lie down..."

"Oh wait, you haven't seen the best part."

"What's that?"

"The bathroom!"

I followed her into an adjoining bathroom. It was huge with black and white Moroccan tiles and an egg shaped bathtub under another large window. This one had a smaller faux hawk hanging just outside.

"It's incredible..."

"Just wait, you definitely need to try the egg."

I laughed and nodded.

"Not too hot though, that's not good for the baby."

"Thanks Bets."

Betsy ran the bath and poured in some delicious smelling essential oils and left me alone to relax. Five minutes later I was soaking in a warm slice of heaven.

I closed my eyes and let my mind drift.

As usual, it drifted back to Kyle. No matter what I did, I couldn't seem to get him out of my mind. I had so many memories to chose from. Making love with him in his dorm room... the hotel... almost making love in his car...

I stopped fighting it and sank lower in the tub. The water swished against my body, touching me everywhere at once. I tried to imagine Kyle here, with me. It wasn't too hard to think about what he might do.

If he was here, I was pretty sure he'd climb into the tub with me. He'd soap me up, rubbing his rough hands over my nipples. Then he'd bite my neck as he guided me onto his lap. I'd straddle his gorgeous cock, letting it fill me up under the water. He'd lift me and lower me, helping me ride him...

I leaned back in the tub and let my fingers slide up and down my pussy lips. I shivered, even though I wasn't cold. One hand reached up to pinch my nipples as the other delved inside, stroking me like he would have. I took my time, picking up the pace, imagining him flexing his hips as he fucked me from below.

I used two hands now, one diving in and out of my opening while the other strummed quickly over my clit. He always made sure I came, and that was the fastest way. It was so real that I could almost feel him there with me.

Almost...

I pictured his handsome face as the whole world shattered. I shook in the tub as I came, making waves in the bathwater.

I crawled out of the tub and into bed even though it was the middle of the afternoon.

Finally, for the first time in a week, I slept.

Chapter Twenty

Kyle

I took my seat, stretching my legs as far as they could go. It wasn't very far. Flying coach was not fun for big guys like me.

I looked sideways at the woman who sat beside me. My shoulders were definitely in her area. I smiled apologetically.

If I'd been a famous ball player, I'd be in first class. For a moment I tried to imagine that. To transport myself to a more comfortable seat.
 

Back to reality, Kyle. That was not happening now. If ever.

The only thing that mattered was where I was going. New York. Upstate New York to be exact.

Woodstock.

That's where Bellie was. Her best friend lived there. The second I'd heard the name of the town from Kenneth's brother, all the pieces had fallen into place.

K-Dawg and his brother had come through for me, and then some. They hadn't just given me her general location. They'd given me exact fucking coordinates.

Not Belinda's. She didn't have a phone. They'd gotten the records and tracked the other cell phone she'd dialed. Which turned out to be her best friend's.
 

Bingo!

Yeah, they were that fucking sneaky.

Apparently, her best friend Betsy Davenport lived in the middle of the woods. The perfect place for an ambush. Not that I was going to attack exactly. Not with actual weapons. But I wasn't going to retreat either.

Belinda was going to deal with me, come hell or high water.

And I was going to deal with her.

All the different ways of doing that entertained me on the flight. There was going to be hell to pay, and I meant to take it in a pound of flesh. I imagined doggie style, missionary, reverse cowboy, scissoring, getting oral, giving oral. I even thought about trying the back door.

I snorted. Like Belinda would go for that. The girl was as pure as the driven snow. Not to mention she was no pushover. The girl knew her own mind. She was not going to just nod meekly and say, 'oh yes big boy, please put it in my butt.'

Then again, I could be very convincing when I wanted to be.

And right now, I wanted in that ass.

I fingered the box in my pocket. She didn't exactly deserve a present after running out on me. But I saw this as a gift for myself. A security measure if you will.

So I wouldn't have to worry about her running again.

I'd bought the one piece of jewelry that was for me as much as for her.

A ring.

Belinda

"Papaya is very good for pregnant women. Have you been constipated?"

"What?"

I glanced at Evan but he seemed unphased by Betsy's frank talk. I, however, was not.

"Um... no?"

"Okay, good. Lots of pregnant women are. I'll just go easy on the coconut oil. Tons of mid-chain-fats."

I watched as she poured chia seeds into the mix. A scoop of raw honey. A banana. An avocado
and
the avocado pit. I grimaced.

"Betsy... those flavor combinations seem... odd."

Evan made a thumbs up symbol.

"It's gooooodddd."

I shrugged and took the smoothie when Betsy poured it. She handed Evan one as well. Then she sipped a half glass of the leftovers. I tried to pawn mine off on her.

"Do you want mine?"

She shook her finger at me.

"You are the one with a bun in the oven. Drink."

I drank, expecting the worse. I was tempted to pinch my nose. Instead, I was shocked as the flavor hit my taste buds.
 

Oh my goodness, it was delicious. It was gooood. Just like Evan had said it was.

I drank every single drop.

"Delicious, thank you Bets."

"How do you feel?"

Betsy was staring at me with fascination. So was Evan. He was a woodworker who barely talked. But right now, he was staring at me. They both were.

"When are you gonna puke?"

"What?"

"Are you going to throw up? I have barf bags all over the house just in case."

"Um, no I don't think so."

Bets looked disappointed.

"I thought you had morning sickness. You know, in the morning."

I laughed.

"It doesn't exactly work that way. It sort of, sneaks up on you. Usually when your stomach is empty or you are just hungry."

I held up the glass.

"Thanks to you, I'm not!"

She thought that over and nodded. I could tell she'd been hoping for more drama. She was too funny, so curious about everything that was happening with my body.

I guess pregnancy was kind of weird.

"Oh, well I guess we can run our errands then."

Betsy handed Evan the dirty blender. I hid a smile as he started doing the dishes. Evan was more domesticated than any man I'd ever met. They had their own way of doing things and it seemed to work very well.

"Sure, you guys go ahead. I'll just be here, reading or something."

"No no no. It's your shower, you need to help pick out the stuff!"

"My- what?"

"Your baby shower!"

"It's a little early for that Bets, but thank you for the thought."

She chewed her lip, her big hazel eyes twinkling.

"Okay so it's a meet and greet. With baby stuff."

I opened my mouth to argue but she was holding up her hand.

"No- don't argue. I already invited half the damn town."

I groaned and Evan cracked a rare smile.

"Don't bother arguing with her."

I rolled my eyes. Yeah, he definitely knew his girlfriend well. I gave up and mentally prepared myself to meet half of Woodstock.

Chapter Twenty-One

Kyle

I stood on the sidewalk, checking my phone. I had a real-time GPS tracker with the target phone's location. I knew her friend might not be with Belinda at the moment. I might be on a wild goose chase.

I was in full recon mode.

Tracking her at a safe distance.

Basically, I was stalking them.

I felt like a lion, hunting a gazelle. A very pretty gazelle with red hair. And a glorious pair of-

"Hey, look out dude!"

A frowning hippie with gray hair and a tie-dyed jacket was staring at me. She looked about 80 years old. So I was surprised at how quickly she turned around to glare at me. She didn't seem intimidated by my size at all.

I lowered my head and apologized.

"Sorry ma'am."

She made a rude noise that sounded like 'harumph' and continued on her way. She motored down the damn street! The old bird was spry to say the least. Must be all the granola.

I'd tried to get a quick bite to eat after the taxi dropped me off. I'd ended up with organic eggs benedict over 12-grain toast. With a side helping of micro greens and, you guessed it, granola.

It had been pretty damn tasty actually. It better be for twenty-seven bucks!

I shook my head. This place was a whole new world. Tie-dye was everywhere. Candles. Head shops. And fancy, fancy food.

Lots of fancy food.

So, Woodstock was not just full of hippies. It was full of
rich
hippies.
 

I scanned the area but couldn't seem to locate my targets. I followed the blue dot until it stopped twenty yards away. Then I crept up towards it.

It wasn't easy to be nonchalant when you were 6'4" and built like a truck, but I tried.

There, up ahead- I saw a mass of shiny red hair as a woman ducked her head into a car. She was with a tiny brunette who was chatting up a storm. They were in the car and pulling out into traffic before I could get close enough.

I started to run but the dark haired girl drove like a demon.

I cursed as the car drove away.

Commencing plan B.

Belinda

A woman with long flowing blond hair was instructing me how to prepare my vagina for birth. Every day, myself or a partner would take a scoop of organic coconut oil and gently stretch the birth canal. I must have looked horrified because she winked and shifted in closer.

"Feels fantastic."

I nodded politely and passed the hemp white chocolate cookies along.
 

"No, thank you."

"Don't worry, they won't get you high. Hemp is a terrific source of protein."

She leaned forward conspiratorially.

"Unless you have herpes. Then it's a no-no. Then you need lysine. Lysine is good for everything."

I stared at her, wondering how she kept it all straight.

"Janice, leave the poor girl alone. She has Betsy here to look after her nutrition."

A group of women in tunics were smiling down at me. They introduced themselves. They all lived on a communal farm and made their own clothes. They handed me a jar of pickled carrots.

"For when you get the cravings."

I thanked them and set the jar down among all the gifts I'd been given. I had no idea what I would do with all this stuff. So far the macramé baby sling was the most perplexing.

The sling was apparently woven from recycled wool and silk with smooth wooden beads to 'massage the baby.' It was pretty in an odd way, but it didn't exactly look secure. I discretely pushed it to the back of the pile for disposal later on.

It was strange how kind and welcoming everyone was being. Despite the strangeness of it all, I felt my eyes water up. After the way my parents had reacted, and my own fear, this was overwhelming me. So much kindness, even if they were a bit odd, meant more to me than I could have anticipated.

The softly playing guitar music wasn't helping with my sentimental mood. Every once in a while the room would break out in song. Classic songs everyone seemed to know the words to. Stuff my parents listened too mostly. Classic rock. Folk. Even some hymnals.

Oh yeah, I was basically weeping the entire afternoon.

I was wiping another swell of tears away when a hush fell over the room.

As usual, Betsy was at the door, chirping her cheerful hello. She was a natural hostess, warm and friendly. Everyone loved her.

"Welcome! Did you bring a gift?"

I looked up to see Kyle towering over Betsy. His broad shoulders blocked out all the natural light coming through the open doorway. He loomed over everyone in here.

He was here. In the room.

In Woodstock.

And he was pissed.

The corner of his mouth twisted in a cynical smile when he saw me. The look in his eye promised retribution. A shiver went through my body at the thought of what that retribution might be.

"Yeah, I brought a gift.
Me.
"

Chapter Twenty-Two

Kyle

She was safe. Healthy. Glowing. She looked beautiful and calm, while I'd been out of my Goddamn mind. That's the first thing I thought. Relief crashed through me, along with a healthy dose of anger.

She'd left me dammit.

Nobody left me.

I smiled at her, narrowing my eyes. It was not a nice smile. It was the smile of a predator who knew he'd cornered his prey.

Belinda's cheeks got red as I walked towards her. I could feel her friend at my heels. There were people everywhere, most of them dressed in soft, flowing fabrics. The woman who I'd collided with earlier was there as well.

She nodded to me coolly and I nodded back, like two gunslingers in a saloon. I would have laughed but I had one thing on my mind and one thing only.

Belinda.

"Kyle- I- what are you doing here?"

I didn't say a word. I just leaned forward slowly, sliding my arms underneath her. She squealed as I picked her up. I turned to her friend.

"Where?"

She knew what I was asking. I wanted a place to be alone. A place to take care of my business. She lifted a finger and pointed, a gleeful smile on her face. I nodded and walked out of the room with my package.